A Taste of the Real World

Recently, students at the University of Technology, Sydney, debated some 'ethics and morals' at a Press Council Case Studies Seminar. Shannon Jones was one of the journalism students present.

Budding journalists had the opportunity to put their moral and ethical beliefs to the test recently when members of the Australian Press Council visited The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). The Council presented a series of simulated case studies for 100 journalism students and lecturers as well as cadets and junior journalists from Fairfax and News Limited to debate media issues.

The APC has as members media industry representatives, members of the public and independent journalists. One of its main functions is to hear complaints from members of the community about Australian newspapers or magazines' coverage. While the Council has no legal powers, its decisions and rulings have great influence on professional practice and public opinion.

"The Press Council gives members of the community a voice" said Sandra Symons, Journalist member on the Council, and lecturer in Journalism at UTS.

She believes that student journalists gain a valuable insight into the media by examining the work of the Council. The Council seminar raises important questions, such as "Is this right? Is this fair? Is this accurate? These are the sorts of questions journalists should constantly ask themselves," she said.

Gerard Noonan, an Industry Council member from Fairfax, believes the seminars are a valuable tool for students and cadets.

"They've been set up by the Press Council so that students can get some idea of the kind of complexities that are dealt with by the Press Council at its monthly complaints hearings," he said at the seminar.

For the students, using the Press Council guidelines as a basis for debate gave an in-depth understanding of what their chosen profession would entail.

"I thought that it did more to clarify what it means to be journalist over the last three hours than a lot of our courses do over a whole semester" said Chrisanthi Giotis, an International Studies and Journalism student.

Rebecca Whalen is in her second year of journalism, and found the seminar demonstrated how professionals think about ethical media issues. "You put yourself in the position to think; would I run that photo or not? How would I approach this story?"

The consensus of those participating in the simulations was not always the same as was upheld or dismissed by the Press Council.

"I get the impression that the student body would like to see the Press Council guidelines toughened up" Gerard Noonan said. He found there were as many different views in the simulation as there are in the Press Council.

At one point, debate was divided over an invasion of privacy issue. A photograph portraying the brutal death of a father had been used on the front page of a newspaper - students hotly debated the moral and ethical issues of whether the picture should have been used on the front page.

"The debate that went on in the seminar is the kind of debate that goes on in the Press Council," Ms Symons said.

Shannon Jones

See also
Case Studies home page

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